Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 18, 2002

Afghan Ex-king Heads Home

Afghanistan's deposed monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah, ended a 29-year exile in Italy on Thursday and headed home to Afghanistan-- a historic return that many believe will help stabilize the war-ravaged country and unify its ethnic and tribal groups.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Afghanistan's deposed monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah, ended a 29-year exile in Italy on Thursday and headed home to Afghanistan -- a historic return that many believe will help stabilize the war-ravaged country and unify its ethnic and tribal groups.

An Italian military aircraft carrying Zaher Shah and his entourage, Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai and six Afghan Cabinet ministers took off just after midnight local time from the Practica di Mare military airport outside Rome.

Zaher Shah, wearing a brown leather jacket and a brown cap instead of his usual more formal attire, waved to reporters as he boarded the plane, but made no statement.

"It's a significant day," Karzai said earlier. "His presence there I'm sure will add to stability and peace in Afghanistan."

Security was tight at the base. Helicopters circled overhead and troops in black ski masks patrolled the perimeter.

Profile of Afghan Ex-king
Born in 1914, Zaher Shah was crowned king at age 19 after his father was assassinated before his eyes in November 1933.
Educated in Europe, he made modest moves to modernize Afghanistan.
The king turned Afghanistan into a constitutional monarchy in 1964.
Zaher Shah ruled Afghanistan from 1933 to 1973.
Zaher Shah's cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, staged a palace coup in 1973 that ousted the king while he was taking thermal baths on an island in southern Italy. To avoid bloodshed, Zaher Shah abdicated, ending a 200-year-old dynasty.
His ouster was followed by the 1979-89 Soviet invasion, a brutal 1992-96 civil war, oppressive Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001 and the U.S.-led bombing campaign that drove the hardline militia from power last year.
Tall, elegant and extremely reserved, Zaher Shah spent his years of obscure exile surrounded by a small but devoted coterie of close aides. He applied himself to quiet pursuits �� chess, photography, writing his memoirs and miniature painting in the Persian style.
He rarely gave interviews, especially after a 1991 assassination attempt by an Angolan-born Portuguese man posing as a journalist.
He lived in a secluded villa on the outskirts of Rome with his wife, Homaira. They had two daughters and five sons.



Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Former Afghan King to Return After Nearly 30 Years of Exile

Security Concerns Postpone Afghan King's Return



 


Ins and Outs of a Young American's Roguery on Bus in China ( 77 Messages)

Venezuelan Parliament Refuses to Recognize Interim President ( 9 Messages)

Chen Shui-bian Preaches Again "Taiwan Independence" ( 8 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 13 Messages)

Chinese Companies Required to Hold Sending More Workers to Israel ( 2 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved